Gold Rush: 2003 Football Preview
8/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 13, 2003
By Sam Walker
Coach Fisher DeBerry of the Air Force Academy used to tell his football teams that potential just means you haven't done it yet. Coach Jim Grobe, who coached a good number of years under DeBerry, is taking that same message to his young 2003 Wake Forest football team. The Deacons lost 12 letterwinners on offense and six on defense off the 2002 Seattle Bowl championship squad. So new faces will play in key places in 2003, and after two straight winning seasons under Grobe the Deacons won't be sneaking up on anybody.
"If you compare the guys we've got this year to the guys we've had on the past two football teams, which is all you can do because you don't know what your competition is going to be like, we're not going to have as much experience, and we're not going to have as much depth but we will have as much talent," Grobe said. "We've got to stay healthy. We've got to make sure we don't beat each other up in practice but still develop the toughness we've had. But I think we're as talented with this class as we have been with the last two. What's problematic is losing eight starters on offense and four on defense. We've just got young guys who have got to prove themselves."
The key for the 2003 Demon Deacons may well be how quickly the younger and more inexperienced players learn how to execute at full speed. Grobe and his staff have worked hard to recruit solid talent and utilize the redshirt year to give players a chance to develop physically and learn the system. As players returned for the first week of summer two-a-days, the coaching staff were still moving players to new positions to try to get the best players on the field in the right places and provide much needed depth.
"We've moved some guys, and we're going to do more," Grobe said. "We moved some freshmen that we recruited one way but felt like they had a better chance to work their way in down the road. We've made some pretty significant changes and we're going to make more. The first thing we've got to do is to find the best 22 players on the team. They've got to be on the field. And then we've got to find the best 44 guys. We like to play a lot of people, but we can't do it if we don't have people ready to play. So the young guys who are biding their time as backups are going to have to step up or they're not going to get much playing time."
The Deacons will again utilize the multiple offense with a no-huddle facet that the coaching staff devised once they got to Wake Forest. Last year the Deacons led the ACC in total offense. There will, however, be a few added wrinkles this year, which won't be unveiled until the season begins.
"We're experimenting a little bit," Grobe said. "Usually we just experiment in the spring, but some of the things we're doing, quite honestly, are because other teams are doing it to us. They'll help our defense to see some different things. But we've always been a multiple offense, and as we get into the fall, we kind of pick and choose our bread and butter. And we don't always know what that is until the second or third game."
Much depends on how well redshirt sophomore quarterback Cory Randolph runs the offense. Randolph has had two years to learn the system and played some meaningful series last year to help him prepare to take over this year. Randolph provides the Deacons with a dual threat with his strong arm and running ability, and Grobe felt confident Randolph is ready for the challenge. Grobe wants the Deacons to go to the air a bit more this year as well as maintain the potent ground attack for which his first two Wake teams have become known.
"I think we've got to throw the ball better," Grobe said. "I thought we threw it well with James last year, and I think we can throw it better with Cory as he matures. Cory has great arm strength but we need him to be a little more accurate and a good decision maker. Unfortunately you don't get all the things you need in practice you get in a game. It'll be interesting to see how settled he is when we go up to Boston College. But Cory had about a series and a half last year, and I've just got a feeling he's going to be great."
Departed from the defensive line are first round NFL pick Calvin Pace, nose guard and NFL draftee Montique Sharpe and end Roderick Stephen. Goryal Scales, although a sophomore, is a proven player, but the rest of the cast lacks game experience. However, Grobe thinks that the Deacons can help buffer the loss of those players with numbers.
"The thing that I like about our defensive line, and people typically think we're in trouble defensively, is that we've got some depth there," Grobe said. "If we keep those guys fresh and rolling them in, I think we can play full speed (the whole game).
"I think if you look at (John) Finklea and (Jerome) Nichols, they're guys who are capable. We've just got to get them to develop a little more intensity. Bryan Andrews moved from linebacker to end. His strong suit is rushing the passer, and in the spring he drove our offense crazy rushing the passer and getting up the field. Jyles Tucker, who played last year at Hargrave Military Academy, is special. He has a lot of athletic ability. I think we're looking at six pretty solid guys there." The linebackers and defensive backs are deeper and more experienced with seniors Quentin Williams and Kellen Brantley leading the defense.
The Wake Forest coaching staff has made some adjustments following the departure of offensive coordinator Troy Calhoun, who joined the Denver Broncos of the NFL. Steed Lobotzke takes over as the offensive coordinator and coaches the entire offensive line. Tom Elrod rejoined the Wake Forest staff after serving as a graduate assistant under Grobe and coaches the fullbacks and tight ends. Keith Henry coaches the corners with defensive coordinator Dean Hood leading the safeties. Brad Lambert has the linebackers, Kevin Sherman the receivers, Jeff Mullen the quarterbacks and Ray McCartney the defensive line. Billy Mitchell coaches the kickers and tailbacks and serves as assistant head coach.
The 2003 schedule is a 12-game slate with the Deacons opening Aug. 30 at Boston College, a school that was mentioned as possible new member of the ACC during expansion talks, but did not receive an invitation. Wake Forest hosts NC State, Purdue, East Carolina, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Connecticut and Maryland this year. It will visit Virginia, Duke, Florida State and North Carolina.
With so many unknown variables, it's difficult to predict how good the 2003 team will be, but if the Deacons improve week by week, another bowl game invitation might be possible.
"The way I look at it, and things generally change and never turn out the way you plan it, is we should be better in the kicking game," Grobe said. "We've got a lot of young guys that are not starters, and in some cases not even backups, that should be able to help us out on special teams.
"My guess is for us to win enough games to be a bowl team again, we're going to have to have a great kicking game, we're going to have to play better defensively, and we're going to have to come on offensively. If we develop the way I think we can, we might just be a little better defensively, we might have a little better kicking game, and if the offense will take care of the ball and not put us in bad situations we might have a chance. That's what we're looking at."
Fullbacks
Returning: Nick Burney (6-3, 216, Sr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Damon McWhite (6-2, 258, r-Fr.); Fred Staton (6-0, 248, r-Jr.); Dominic Anderson (6-0, 204, r-So.)
Ovie Mughelli has now advanced to the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL and leaves quite a hole to fill at the fullback position. Nick Burney is the only returning field-tested player from last year, but he has proven over the course of his career he can get the job done. "Nick is tough kid who has a burst and 4.6 speed in the 40 yard-dash," Coach Tom Elrod said. "Nick can catch the ball and has worked hard over the summer. He has potential, and he's been through three winning seasons now and I know he wants to continue that."
Damon McWhite is a redshirt freshman that can play fullback and tight end. Elrod said he likes his big body and early in the season he must focus upon learning his position assignments. "Damon just needs the reps and he needs to get his weight down to about 250. He's more of a blocker, but he can run the ball."
Fred Staton has seen some action but is still working on coming back from academic difficulties. He could bolster the depth at fullback should he return to the team, but his eligibility is still uncertain. Staton has 709 career rushing yards in two seasons at Wake Forest. Dominic Anderson was moved from tailback to fullback the first week of summer camp.
Tight end
Returning: RD Montgomery (6-6, 229 r-Jr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Dan Callahan (6-4, 259, r-Fr.); Josh Warren (r-Sr.)
Waiting in the Wings: Chris Carrothers (6-3, 252, Jr.)
With Ray Thomas now gone, the tight end position has untested talent waiting to take over. RD Montgomery exited spring practices No. 1 on the depth chart. "RD is a big target at 6-7, and he's a kid who has gone from weighing 180 pounds to 240 pounds," Coach Tom Elrod said. "He works hard in the weight room. He needs to work on assignments and blocking, but he's a good target over the middle with his long arms."
Dan Callahan is a redshirt freshman moved in the spring from offensive tackle to tight end. "Dan did a good job picking up assignments and he's a good blocker," Elrod said. "He was a pleasant surprise coming out of the spring and he completes out there."
Josh Warren did not participate in spring practices but plans to return from academic difficulties and has a chance to work his way back into the rotation according to Elrod.
Chris Carrothers was moved from the defensive line after asking to make a position change. The coaching staff classifies Carrothers as a player with all the tools.
Tailbacks
Returning: Chris Barclay (5-10, 170, So.); Cornelius Birgs (5-10, 203, r-So.)
Waiting in the Wings: Napoleon Sykes (5-9, 212, r-Fr.)
Chris Barclay and Cornelius Birgs were the top two tailbacks coming out of spring practices. Barclay played as a true freshman last year and proved to be an elusive open-field runner. Barclay accumulated 703 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season. Birgs played sporadically throughout last season and had 75 yards against Northern Illinois.
"Last year when Tarence (Williams) was hurt, Chris came in and played and did a pretty good job for us," Coach Billy Mitchell said. "He had a pretty good spring, so I expect him to pick up where he left off. He should be stronger being in the weight room. We're counting on a lot of production from him.
"Chris is going to be pushed very hard by Cornelius because he's a back that can do similar things," Mitchell said. "It's always a competition with these guys. But both these guys have similar speed and a knack for the goal line."
Napoleon Sykes, a redshirt freshman, is waiting in the wings.
Kickers
Returning: Matt Wisnosky (6-1, 181, r-So.); Ryan Plackemeyer (6-3, 230, So.); Steve Hale (6-0, 201, Jr.)
Waiting in the Wings: Matt Lopatka (6-1, 177, So.)
Matt Wisnosky, a former walk-on who is now a scholarship player, returns for his second year of action as a place kicker. Last year Wisnosky was 17 of 25 on field goals and 33 of 36 on point after attempts. Wisnosky will handle all of the kickoff, field goal and point after duties entering the 2003 season. Coach Billy Mitchell is looking for consistency from his kickers, and Wisnosky won the job last year as a redshirt freshman.
Ryan Plackemeyer will back up Wisnosky and handle the punting duties to begin the season. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt last year as a true freshman. Steve Hale, a junior who also has some experience, will push Plackemeyer for punting duties.
"We want Matt to work on getting the ball deeper on kickoffs and being more consistent," Coach Billy Mitchell said. "Ryan will be the starting punter, but Steve gets the ball off quickly. But he and Ryan are comparable. I feel good about both of them."
Jack Yates, a senior, will be the starting long snapper with Greg Adkins, a redshirt sophomore, focusing on the short snap.
Offensive Line
Returners: Tyson Claybo (6-6, 314, Sr.); Mark Moroz (6-4, 285, Sr.); Blake Lingruen (6-4, 276, r-Jr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Chad Rebar (6-3, 314, r-Sr.); Joe Salsich (6-4, 280, r-Jr.); Steve Vallos (6-3, 302, r-Fr.); Craig Rotthoff (6-3, 292, r-So.); Wesley Bryant (6-4, 285, r-So.); Greg Adkins (6-3, 283, r-So.); Jamil Smith (6-3, 257, r-Fr.);
The offensive line is an unusual mix of older veterans and younger players who must step up their play and become contributors immediately.
"Tyson Claybo will start at right guard," Coach Steed Lobotzke said. "He is the leader and a definite All-ACC type of player. He runs summer drills. He puts the guys through assignment review, he runs extra lifting, so he's my assistant coach. Moroz at right tackle, because I want to have Tyson and Mark on the same side with experience and a go-to side, he's due to have one of those All-ACC years also. The other guy I really have a lot of faith in is Blake Lingruen at center. He just had a great spring, and he could get some notice." Craig Jones must serve a three-game suspension for breaking team rules but could work his way back into the lineup at center.
"The other guard spot is a three-headed monster," Lobotzke said. "Char Rebar has the lead right now, but Joe Salsich is hot on his heels. Steve Vallos is a redshirt freshman who has shown some flashes. He's pushing fast and gaining on the other two. They will all play some. At left tackle, it's a two-headed monster that might become a three-headed monster. Wesley Bryant and Greg Adkins came out of spring ball dead even, and they will start two-a-days dead even. The third guy in the mix is Jamil Smith who is coming off an injury, but he's a physical specimen, and I hope he can push and get into the mix and be the third guy who plays."
Quarterback
Returning: Cory Randolph (6-1, 188, r-So.)
Waiting in the Wings: Zac Taylor (6-3, 187, r-Fr.) Anders Larson (6-3, 175, So.); Ben Mauk (6-1, 205, Fr.); Bruce Hall (6-0, 195 Fr.); Ben Reiling (6-3, 200, Fr.)
With Seattle Bowl MVP James MacPherson now trying to win a spot with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL, redshirt sophomore Cory Randolph becomes the top quarterback coming out of spring practices. Randolph will be heavily relied upon to run the offense. Randolph played in nine games and completed 50 percent of his passes for 333 yards a season ago, but he hasn't had the pressure of running the team full time.
"Last year James (MacPherson) and Cory had similar attributes, but James was so good we couldn't afford to take him off the field," Coach Jeff Mullen said. "This year it would have been great if Cory had played all last year, but that wouldn't have gotten us to the bowl game. So there is a youth factor there. Athletically Cory is every bit what James was if not more. The only problem is that he has a cannon for an arm and thinks everybody is open. We've got to tame him from that, and that's my job. But if Cory's healthy, he's going to be the guy."
Zac Taylor, a redshirt freshman played in the spring game, but he hasn't played in a game as a Demon Deacon. Taylor was 5 of 11 for 55 yards in the spring game. "Right now Cory and Zac have a bit of separation. But if Cory goes down, Zac's the guy."
True freshmen Ben Mauk and Bruce Hall are highly touted recruits, but both will probably be redshirted this season.
Receivers
Returning: Jason Anderson (6-3, 182, r-Jr.); Anthony Young (6-3, 208, Sr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Chris Davis (5-11, 179 So.); Willie Idlette (5-11, 169, r-Fr.); Nate Morton (6-2, 195, r-Fr.)
Jason Anderson returns after grabbing 23 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. He is undoubtedly the top returning receiver after catching three passes for 157 yards in the Seattle Bowl. Two of those catches went for touchdowns.
Anthony Young, who began his career playing quarterback at Wake Forest, returns after catching 10 balls for 116 yards. Young has proven to be elusive in the open field and could be a major contributor in his final season.
"Jason's definitely our top guy coming back into camp," Coach Kevin Sherman said. "We need him to learn the system a little bit better because we have changed some things. We're counting on him to have another good year and we've got to find ways to get him the football whenever we can. Anthony Young had a good spring, but he has to improve big time in this camp. He's got to go and be like Jason and make the big play. He needs to give us a reason to throw the football to him."
Nate Morton, a converted quarterback, is a big target that was switched to receiver during the week of the Seattle Bowl. "He's has good speed and good hands and comes in as a redshirt freshman," Sherman said. "He's kind of learned the system and knows the terminology, but he's still a work in progress." Chris Davis and Willie Idlette are two talented receivers who "got their feet wet" during spring practices but will be counted on this season for depth and speed and to help buffer the loss of Fabian Davis.
"We're looking for those types of things (Fabian-Davis type all purpose yardage) from both of those guys," Sherman said.
Defensive Line
Top Playing Time Candidates: Goryal Scales (6-0, 283, r-So.); Jerome Nichols (6-2, 274 r-Jr.); John Finklea (6-5, 273, r-So.); Bryan Andrews ( 6-6, 243, r-Fr.); Cory Stukes (6-4, 250, r-So.);
Waiting in the Wings: Arthur Orlebar ( 6-4, 246, r-So.); Daniel Orlebar (6-4, 257, r-Fr.);
The defensive line was hit hard by graduation with all three starters from a season ago now gone."All three guys are now in the NFL, and that tells the story," Coach Ray McCartney said. Goryal Scales will be at nose tackle, Jerome Nichols at left end and John Finklea at right end. Cory Stukes was moved from linebacker and now backs up at nose tackle. Jyles Tucker, a freshman who played last year at Hargrave Military Academy, could make an immediate impact according to McCartney.
"Scales is my bell cow, and Nichols and Finklea are my next two, but I'm expecting big things out of Stukes, Bryan Andrews and Jyles Tucker. I'm real excited to get Andrews and Jyles, I'm expecting big things out of him. Arthur Orlebar is a kid that we'll just have to wait and see, but he's put on a lot of weight this summer, and I'm real impressed with that. Daniel Orlebar is a young kid trying to work his way in."
Linebackers
Returning: Kellen Brantley (6-3, 238, Sr.); Dion Williams (6-1, 247 r-Sr.) Brad White (6-1, 226, r-Jr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Pierre Easley (6-0, 236, r-Fr.); Mike Hamlar (6-2, 212, r-Jr.); Chris Owen (6-2, 215, r-So.); Jason Pratt (6-0, 221, r-So.): Obi Chukwumah (6-2, 199 r-Sr.) Trevor Harris (6-1, 230, Jr.)
The linebacker position is experienced and talented. Kellen Brantley returns after 61 tackles and five tackle-for-losses in 2002. Dion Williams had 45 stops and two forced fumbles a season ago, and Brad White totaled 94 stops, three forced fumbles and five tackles-for-loss. Brantley and Williams will anchor the outside positions with White being the man in the middle.
Pierre Easley got some experience during the spring and will be counted upon to add depth at linebacker. Coach Brad Lambert feels sure that he could develop into an impact player this year despite lack of game experience. Mike Hamlar and Jason Pratt both have limited playing experience but will return to vie for playing time. Chris Owen sat out last year because of a torn ACL.
"Those guys (returners) are all back, and Kellen has started the last two years, so we're looking for a lot of leadership out of him," Coach Brad Lambert said. "Brad (White) played last year and ended up being our leading tackler. Dion is a guy that started off and on last year, and we're looking hard for the depth between Obi Chukwumah, Trevor Harris, Chris Owen, Pierre Easley, (Mike) Hamlar... They're all at the same place, so we're looking to create some competition in there and see who will emerge. Our starters are every down kind of guys, but we don't them to have to be every-down guys."
Defensive Backs
Safety
Returning: Quentin Williams (6-2, 200, Sr.); Caron Bracy (6-0, 222, r-Jr.); Warren Braxton (6-0, 207, r-Jr.);
Top Playing Time Candidates: Patrick Ghee (6-2, 206, r-Fr.); James Adams (6-3, 212 r-Fr.); Josh Gattis (6-2, 195, r-Fr.); Robert Simmons (5-8, 183, r-So.)
Cornerback
Returning: Eric King (5-9, 185, Jr.); Daryl Shaw (5-9, 179, Sr.); Marcus McGruder (5-9, 175 r-Jr.)
Top Playing Time Candidates: Riley Swanson (6-0, 171, r-Fr.)
The defensive backfield returns a veteran group. Quentin Williams, a four-year starter, is the defensive leader. Last year Williams had 72 tackles from his safety position, had three interceptions and has become known as a hard-hitting player. Caron Bracy was second on the team in tackles a year ago with 82 tackles, and Warren Braxton had a good spring along with Bracy playing at the Bandit spot. Patrick Ghee should see action this year as well.
"We've got all three of those guys back at safety, which is kind of rare, but Quentin leads that group, " Coach Dean Hood said. "Quentin's real, and kids know he's reliable and will follow him. "Ghee and Adams and Gattis are guys we feel will be good, and they're going to be like Williams, Bracy and Braxton one day."
At corner, Eric King, Daryl Shaw and Marcus McGruder are all battle-tested players. King had 63 stops in 2002, Shaw had 57 and McGruder 31.
"Eric King is one of the top defensive backs we have returning, and Daryl Shaw and McGruder, I've been juggling their playing time based on the number of reps they get in a game," said Coach Keith Henry. "We depend on Eric a lot for leadership, and he's a guy who is asked to make a lot of plays. He's been here all summer working, so he knows what we're expecting. Marcus is a kid who is going to work hard in the weight room and on the playing field. He's a technician, which makes up for some lack of speed. He's a great kid who is very coachable. Daryl is the only senior we've got and was a walk-on that earned a scholarship last year. He's a kid we're expecting a lot out of. Riley Swanson is a diamond in the rough and will end up playing a lot once he learns what we're doing defensively. He's got good hips, good speed, great technique but physically just needs to get stronger."